GHLI Fellows to aid in improving health care abroad this summer

May 23, 2013

Four Yale students have been selected as Global Health Leadership Institute (GHLI) Fellows, and will work with country delegations attending the GHLI Conference, to be held June 9–14 at the University.

The goal of the conference is to work with each delegation to develop strategies addressing a health issue in its country. This year, GHLI will host delegations from Brazil, the eastern Caribbean, Ghana, and Uganda. The work will focus on a range of issues, including early childhood development, mental health, and non-communicable diseases.

“GHLI Fellows play a central role in supporting our delegations to develop and carry out strategies that are created during their time at Yale. In addition, fellows gain valuable hands-on experience in global health research and programs,” said Mike Skonieczny, executive director of GHLI.

After the conference, the fellows travel with their assigned delegations to conduct further research and help implement the plans created at Yale. Support and mentorship are provided through GHLI and an adviser from the delegation.

The 2013 GHLI Fellows and the countries in which they will work are Mary Weng, Brazil; Perri Kasen, Ghana; Monica Jordan, Eastern Caribbean; and Hilary Rogers, Uganda.

Profiles of the delegates follow:

Mary WengBrazil Fellow

Weng is a senior psychology major at Yale College and a candidate for the five-year B.S./M.P.H. program with concentrations in health policy and management, and global health. During her time with the Brazilian delegation, Weng will focus on early childhood development.

Perri Kasen Ghana Fellow

Kasen is a Master in Public Health (M.P.H.) candidate at the Yale School of Public Health, with concentrations in health care management and global health. While working with the Ghanaian delegation, Kasen will focus on the issue of mental health. She is also interested in global health management.

Monica JordanEastern Caribbean Fellow

Jordan is a M.P.H. candidate at the Yale School of Public Health in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences; she is also in the global health concentration. During her time with the delegation from the Eastern Caribbean, Jordan will focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on the island of Trinidad and Tobago. Her work in childhood obesity and her experience at the Rudd Center fueled Jordan’s interest in growing prevalence of obesity and NCDs.

Hilary RogersUganda Fellow

Rogers is a senior history of science and medicine major at Yale College and a candidate for the five-year B.S./M.P.H. program with concentrations in chronic disease epidemiology and global health. Her work will focus on NCDs. Rogers is also interested in maternal health.

GHLI develops global health leadership at Yale and around the world through education and research programs that strengthen health systems and promote health equity and quality of care for all.